THE chairman of Llanelli Scarlets has defended his personal financial interest in plans to sell the club's Stradey Park stadium for redevelopment.

Last week it emerged that a property company wholly owned by Huw Evans had bought two pieces of land next to the stadium.

And the land owned by his company, Stirling Property Management, is included in a planning application to build 450 new homes on the Stradey Park site that has met strong resistance from neighbouring residents. The club wants to develop a new stadium elsewhere in Llanelli.

Since then sale particulars for Stradey Park have been studied, indicating that offers are invited from potential developers at #800,000 an acre.

The asking price for the four-acre Stirling part of the site, which was bought partly in 2000 and partly in 2002, is #3.2m.

Mr Evans has loaned the club more than #6m, and would thus be entitled to all of the club's remaining receipts of #5.3m if the site fetches the asking price.

But Mr Evans said, "Any speculation that I will stand to make any personal profit from my connection with the Llanelli Scarlets over the last 10 years is completely unfounded."

He said that he had pumped millions into the club already in order to improve it as a rugby institution. He said he bought the land to further these goals.

"After so many years of both personal and financial commitment to the club my sole purpose has been to ensure its survival and to support, from behind the scenes, the promotion of the club, Carmarthenshire and West Wales. I originally bought the two pockets of land back in 2000 and 2002, with the sole purpose of protecting the Scarlets' interests. Neither piece of land has ever been owned by Llanelli RFC or the Scarlets.

"The first pocket of land was being rented by the Scarlets for their offices and corporate hospitality and my purchase took away this cost, while the second piece of land was bought with the intention of building a training barn - a facility we now plan to provide at the new stadium. At the time of both purchases there was no possibility of the club looking to move or the land to be submitted for planning permission."

Now the club is moving, and the land is up for sale.

The sale document states, "The vendor (the club and Stirling Property Management) has entered into a joint venture agreement with Carmarthenshire County Council whereby the council undertakes to develop the new stadium in return for the club contributing #7.5m from the proceeds of the sale of Stradey Park." This payment is to be made by the club in return for outline planning consent to redevelop Stradey Park for new housing.

It adds, "The balance of the proceeds of sale will go towards meeting the club's ongoing financial commitments."

Mr Evans said, "The harsh reality is that the move to a modern new stadium needs to be made in order for the Scarlets to survive. The new facility will bring larger revenue generating capability and help secure its long-term future."